45 Best New Year's Eve Drinks Recipes

112 Grapes Cocktail glasses of champagne filled with 12 green grapes PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

In many parts of the world, people eat 12 green grapes in the first sixty seconds of the New Year to bring good luck in the year ahead. Although speaking from experience, when the clock strikes midnight, 12 grapes don’t seem such a simple task. Enter a simpler and tastier option: the 12 grapes cocktail.

Get the 12 Grapes Cocktail recipe.

2Pomegranate Spritz pomegranate spritz topped with champagne PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

A seasonal twist takes the classic bubbly spritz and gives it a bold, juicy upgrade with the sweet-tart allure of pomegranate juice. Featuring Campari, sweet vermouth, and the perfect amount of Prosecco (or you can use champagne if you’d like), this drink is effortlessly chic, incredibly sippable, and just dramatic enough to turn heads.

Get the Pomegranate Spritz recipe.

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3Cranberry Collins cranberry gin cocktail in a tall glass with rosemary and cranberries PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Introducing a bright and herbaceous twist on the classic Tom Collins. This refreshing cocktail blends crisp gin, zesty lemon, tart cranberry juice, and aromatic thyme, topped with bubbly club soda for a lively finish. Served over medium ice in a tall Collins glass, it’s a festive sip that captures the flavors of the season.

Get the Cranberry Collins recipe.

4Champagne Jell-O Shots champagne jello shots decorated with sprinkles PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Looking for a fun and sophisticated way to get a little tipsy? Whip up a batch of Champagne Jell-O shots for your next New Year’s Eve party. Made with Champagne, lemonade, vodka, and powdered gelatin, they offer a delightful high-low pairing, much like serving caviar with potato chips.

Get the Champagne Jell-O Shots recipe.

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5Sugarplum Spritz a refreshing holiday cocktail with plum wine, prosecco, maraschino cherry syrup, lemon, and bitters, garnished with a sugared plum PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Half the fun of hosting over the holidays is putting out a spread of cute treats with even more adorable names, right? That’s why we created this sugarplum spritz. It’s a light, refreshing, and wintery take on everyone’s fave summer beverage that belongs at any and every holiday party.

Get the Sugarplum Spritz recipe.

6Figgy Spritz figgy spritz cocktail with a fig and rosemary garnish PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

In this cold-weather rendition of everyone’s favorite summer spritz, we included a woodsy rosemary sprig and fig syrup to welcome fall’s rich, earthy flavors and make the easiest large-format cocktail that will impress everyone at your holiday table.

Get the Figgy Spritz recipe.

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7Lambrusco SmashPHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

While a glass of Lambrusco is always good served on its own, it’s also a fantastic starting point for a cocktail. The smoky mezcal, bright orange citrus, and spice from the ginger beer here tie together beautifully, giving you a zingy, sweet-ish, refreshing, and original cocktail.

Get the Lambrusco Smash recipe.

8French 75 french 75 in a flute garnished with a lemon twist PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: JUSTIN SULLIVAN

The French 75 is among the fanciest of cocktails. Sure, there’s the tried-and-true margarita and the timeless Old-Fashioned, but the French 75 has got what those two don’t: Champagne!

Get the French 75 recipe.

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9Fireside Negroni negroni in a mug with an orange slice PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Move over, hot toddy—there’s a new hot drink in town, and the name is fireside Negroni. We dressed up the tried and true Negroni with Earl Grey tea and a touch of maple syrup. The tea adds notes of bergamot and citrus, and the maple syrup gives a touch of rich sweetness that welcomes another sip, and another sip, and another.

Get the Fireside Negroni recipe.

10Pomegranate Martini pomegranate martini in a glass with a sanding sugar rim PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

More like a Cosmopolitan than a classic martini, this recipe replaces the Cosmo’s traditional cranberry juice with pomegranate. Garnish with a sugar rim and a fresh rosemary sprig for the perfect drink to serve at all your holiday gatherings.

Get the Pomegranate Martini recipe.

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11Kir Royale three glass flutes filled with champagne, cassis liqueur, and fresh raspberries PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON12Tiramisu White Russians white russian cocktail topped with whipped cream, cocoa powder, and a lady finger PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Somewhere between cocktail and dessert, this Italian-influenced White Russian is hard to resist. Looking for a festive upgrade? A dash of orange bitters, a pinch of ground cinnamon, or some fresh nutmeg shavings add another dimension to this decadent drink.

Get the Tiramisu White Russians recipe.

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13Melting Snowman Mimosa mimosa with a snowman made out of sorbet PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This is a classic, simple cocktail with a beautiful twist, and it even puts on a full-length show. The lemon sorbet slowly melts into the Champagne, turning the whole drink frothy and frosty. Sure, you could skip decorating the snowman, but why would you? It’s just too cute to resist.

Get the Melting Snowman Mimosa recipe.

14Cranberry Paloma a short glass with a sugar rim, filled with a tequila grapefruit and cranberry cocktail, garnished with a grapefruit twist and fresh cranberries PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

The holidays usually usher in seasonal cocktails with cozy spices to stay warm in the winter, but we think bright, refreshing beverages should be enjoyed all year long. If you love sipping on margaritas and palomas but want a more festive recipe to enjoy during the holiday season, meet the cranberry paloma.

Get the Cranberry Paloma recipe.

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15Yule Mule cranberry orange mule served in copper mugs and garnished with fresh cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary sprigs PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Instead of lime juice like in a traditional Moscow mule, we opt for the classic winter combination of cranberry and orange. We also give the mule a holiday twist by using rosemary instead of mint. There’s also a sprig used as a garnish, so you get a whiff of the festive holiday fragrance with every sip.

Get the Yule Mule recipe.

16White Cranberry Cosmo white cocktail garnished with sugared cranberries and rosemary PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

With nostalgic foods and drinks on the rise, the Cosmo is in the perfect place to shine again. Keeping much of the same vein as the classic, this cocktail gets a boost from white cranberry juice and an aroma of fresh rosemary. The candied cranberries are totally optional, but are a fun way to really drive home the holiday spirit.

Get the White Cranberry Cosmo recipe.

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17Werther’s White Russian white russian cocktail with caramel and werthers candy PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Your grandma’s favorite candy just got a glow-up in this Werther’s White Russian: a bold and boozy nod to holiday nostalgia with a grown-up twist. Combining the comforting flavors of butterscotch candies and rich coffee, this cocktail brings together overproof rum, Kahlúa, fresh coffee, triple sec, and velvety whole milk for a luxuriously creamy sip with a spirited kick.

Get the Werther’s White Russian recipe.

18(Make Ahead) Holiday Punch Bowl Ice Cubes red frozen ice cubes with orange slices and spices PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Looking for a quick way to level up your holiday punch bowl or cocktails without the hassle? These stunning ice cubes are an incredibly easy solution—and they’ll make you look super-classy too! These ice cubes use pomegranate juice instead of water, adding both flavor and a vibrant red hue to what would otherwise be plain ice.

Get the (Make Ahead) Holiday Punch Bowl Ice Cubes recipe.

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19Cranberry MimosasPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

While the classic combo of four parts Champagne and one part fresh orange juice can certainly hold its own, this recipe adds a fun winter twist by swapping the orange juice with fresh cranberries, cranberry juice, rosemary, and a hint of lime.

Get the Cranberry Mimosas recipe.

20Cherry-Lime Margarita cherry lime margarita with a lime rim and cherry and lime garnish PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

The margarita is a seasonal drink…right? We think so! Especially this cherry-lime margarita, which is right on theme for a tropical winter. We used both cherry concentrate and the syrup from a maraschino cherry jar to achieve the perfect balance of tart and sweet.

Get the Cherry-Lime Margarita recipe.

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